Skip to main content

Stable isotope ratios and nodular limestone of the Proterozoic Rohtas Limestone: Vindhyan basin, India

Carbonates and Evaporites volume 21, pages 133–143 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

The Proterozoic Rohtas Limestone succession in the Vindhyan basin, central India depicts a transition from outer shelf to inner shelf depositional setting. The succession comprises of seven facies viz., black shale, crinkly-laminated limestone, nodular limestone, thinly-laminated heterolithic, grey shale, plane-laminated limestone and wavy-laminated limestone. From field and petrographic features the nodular limestone is identified as early diagenetic product of crinkly-laminated limestone. δ13C and δ18O values of the limestone bear essentially the ‘primary’ seawater composition of late Paleoproterozoic to early Mesoproterozoic time and rules out any postdepositional resetting. δ13C and δ18O compositions of the nodular and non-nodular portions when analysed separately reveals that the nodular portions are invariably enriched in heavier oxygen and carbon isotopes. Enrichment in oxygen and carbon isotope values in the same nodular limestone, although negligible, suggest preferential cementation within the nodular portion. Nodules were possibly generated by dissolution of carbonate sediments and subsequent reprecipitation of carbonate cements close to the sea floor.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price includes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • BANERJEE, S., 1997, Facets of Mesoproterozoic Semri sedimentation in son valley. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, p. 137.

    Google Scholar 

  • BAULD, J., 1981, Geobiological role of cyanobacterial mats in sedimentary environments: production and preservation of organic matter:BMR Journal of Australian Geology and Geophysics, v. 6, p. 307–317.

    Google Scholar 

  • BOSE, P.K., SARKAR, S., CHAKRABORTY, S., and BANERJEE, S., 2001, Overview of the Meso- to Neoproterozoic evolution of the Vindhyan basin, central India:Sedimentary Geology, v. 141, p. 395–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CHANDA, S.K. and BHATTACHARYA, A., 1982, Vindhyan sedimentation and paleogeography: post-Auden developments,in K.S. Valdiya, B.S. Bhatia, and V.K. Gaur, eds., Geology of Vindhyanchal. Hindusthan Publishing Corporation, Delhi, p. 88–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • CRAIG, H., 1957, Isotopic standards for each carbon and oxygen correlation factors for mass spectrometric analysis of carbon dioxide:Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 12, p. 133–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FAIRCHILD, I.J., MARSHALL, J.D., and BERTRANDSARFATI, J., 1990, Stratigraphic shifts in carbon and oxygen isotopes from Proterozoic stromatolitic carbonates (Mauritiania): influences of primary mineralogy and diagenesis:American Journal of Science, v. 290-A, p. 46–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • FLÜGEL, E., 2004, Microfacies of Carbonate Rocks. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, p. 976.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • FRIEDMAN, G.M., CHAKRABORTY, C., and KOLKAS, M.M., 1996, δ13C Excursion in the end-Proterozoic strata of the Vindhyan basin (central India): its chronostratigraphic significance:Carbonates and Evaporites, v. 11, p. 206–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FRIEDMAN, G.M. and CHAKRABORTY, C., 1997, Stable isotopes in marine carbonates: Their implications for the paleoenvironment with special reference to the Proterozoic Vindhyan carbonates (central India):Journal of the Geological Society of India, v. 50, p. 131–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • HOLLMAN, R., 1962, Subsolutions-Fragmente (Zur Biostratinomie der Ammonoididea im Malm des Monte Baldo/Norditalien):Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Palaontologie Abhandlungen, v. 119, p. 22–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • HUDSON, J.D., 1977, Stable isotopes and limestone lithification:Journal of the Geological Society of London, v. 133, p. 637–660.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • JOACHIMSKY, M.M., 1994, Subaerial exposure and deposition of shallowing upward sequences: evidence from stable isotopes of Puerbeckian peritidal carbonates (basal Cretaceous), Swiss and French Jura Mountains:Sedimentology, v. 41, p. 805–824.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • KAUFMAN, A.J. and KNOLL, A.H., 1995, Neoproterozoic variations in the C-isotopic compositions of the seawater: stratigraphic and biogeochemical implications:Precambrian Research, v. 73, p. 27–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • KNOLL, A.H. and SWETT, K., 1990, Carbonate deposition during the late Proterozoic era: an example from the Spitsbergen:American Journal of Science, v. 290A, p. 104–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • KUMAR, B., DAS SHARMA, S., SREENIVAS, B., DAYAL, A.M., RAO, M.N., DUBEY, N., and CHAWLA, B.R., 2002, Carbon, oxygen and strontium isotope geochemistry of Proterozoic carbonate rocks of the Vindhyan basin, central India:Precambrian Research, v. 113, p. 43–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LAND, L.S., 1980, The Isotopic and Trace Element Geochemistry of Dolomite: The State of the Art,in D.H. Zenger, J.B. Dunham, and R.L. Ethington, eds., Concepts and Models in Dolomitization: Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Special Publication, v. 28, p. 87–110.

  • LINDSAY, J.F. and BRASIER, M.D., 2000, A carbon isotope reference curve for 1700–1575 Ma, Mc Arthur and Mt Isa Basins, northern Australia:Precambrian Research, v. 99, p. 271–308.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • PAIKARAY, S., BANERJEE, S., JEEVANKUMAR, S., and MUKHERJI, S., 2003, Occurrences of black shales within the Vindhyan Supergroup and its implications:Indian Journal of Petroleum Geology, v. 12, p. 65–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • RASMUSSEN, B., BOSE, P.K., SARKAR, S., BANERJEE, S., FLETCHER, I.R., and MCNAUGHTON, N.J., 2002, 1.6 Ga age for the Chorhat Sandstone: implications for the early evolution of animals:Geology, v. 30, p. 103–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • RAY, J.S., MARTIN, M.W., and VEIZER, J., 2002, U-Pb zircon dating and Sr isotope systematics of the Vindhyan Supergroup, India:Geology, v. 30, p. 131–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • RAY, J.S., VEIZER, J., and DAVIS, W.J., 2003, C, O, Sr and Pb isotope systematics of carbonate sequences of the Vindhyan Supergroup, India: age, diagenesis, correlation and implications for global events:Precambrian Research, v. 121, p. 103–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SARANGI, S., GOPALAN, K., and KUMAR, S., 2004, Pb−Pb age of earliest megascopic eukaryotic alga bearing Rohtas Formation, Vindhyan Supergroup, India: Implications for Precambrian atmospheric oxygen evolution:Precambrian Research, v. 132, p. 107–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SARG, J.F., 1988, Carbonate sequence stratigraphy,In C. Wilgus, B. Hastings, C. Ross, H. Posamentier, J. Van Wagoner, and C.G.S.C. Kendall, eds., Sea-level Changes: an Integrated Approach. Society of Economic paleontologists and Mineralogists Special Publication, v. 42, p. 155–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • SARKAR, S., CHAKRABORTY, P.P., BHATTACHARYA, S.K., and BANERJEE, S., 1998, C12enrichment along intraformational unconformities within Proterozoic Bhander Limestone, Son valley, India and its implications:Carbonates and Evaporites, v. 13, p. 108–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SCHIEBER, J., 1999, Microbial mats in terrigenous clastics: The challenge of identification in the rock record:Palaios, v. 14, p. 3–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SCHIEBER, J., 2004, Microbial mats in the siliciclastic rock record: a summary of the diagnostic features. 7.9.In P.G. Eriksson, W. Altermann, D.R. Nelson, W.U. Mueller, and O. Catuneanu, eds., The Precambrian Earth: Tempos and Events. Elsevier, Amsterdam, p. 663–673.

    Google Scholar 

  • SHIELDS, G. and VEIZER, J., 2002, Precambrian marine isotope database: version 1.1:Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, v. 3, p. U1-U12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • VEIZER, J., PLUM, K.A., CLAYTON, R.N., HINTON, R.W., and GROTZINGER, J.P., 1992, Geochemistry of Precambrian carbonates. V. Late Paleoproterozoic seawater:Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 56, p. 2487–2501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. P. Sanyal

    Present address: Department of Geology and Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, 721302, Kharagpu, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, IIT Bombay, Powai, 400076, Mumbai, India

    Santanu Banerjee & S. Jeevankumar

  2. Physical Research Laboratory, Navrangpura, 380009, Ahmedabad, India

    P. Sanyal & S. K. Bhattacharyya

Authors
  1. Santanu Banerjee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Jeevankumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. Sanyal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. K. Bhattacharyya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Banerjee, S., Jeevankumar, S., Sanyal, P. et al. Stable isotope ratios and nodular limestone of the Proterozoic Rohtas Limestone: Vindhyan basin, India. Carbonates Evaporites 21, 133–143 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03175663

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03175663

Keywords

  • Nodular limestone
  • stable isotopes
  • early diagenesis
  • Rohtas Limestone
  • microbial mat